Special Committee on

Decolonization

8^th Meeting (AM)

special committee approves texts on implementation of decolonization declaration,

 

economic activities affecting Non-Self-Governing peoples

 

The Special Committee on Decolonization approved by consensus today two draft resolutions concerning implementation of the Independence Declaration, and one on economic and other activities affecting the interests of peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories.

By the first draft, entitled “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples” (document A/AC.109/2009/L.10), the General Assembly would reaffirm its determination to take all necessary steps to bring about the complete and speedy eradication of colonialism and the faithful observance by all States of relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter, the Declaration and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Assembly would affirm, by other terms of the text, its support for the aspirations of people under colonial rule to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, and call upon administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee to develop and finalize, before the end of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, a constructive programme of work for Non-Self-Governing Territories on a case-by-case basis.

Recalling with satisfaction the professional, open and transparent nature of the February 2006 and October 2007 referendums to determine the future status of Tokelau, the Assembly would request that the Special Committee continue seeking suitable means to implement the Declaration immediately and fully, and to carry out Assembly-approved actions regarding the First and Second Decades for the Eradication of Colonialism in all Territories that had not yet exercised their right to self-determination.  Those actions should include creating specific proposals to end colonialism; examining the implementation of relevant resolutions and the situation in the Territories; visits and special missions to the Territories; seminars; and annual observances of the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Further by that text, the Assembly would call upon the administering Powers to ensure that their activities in Territories under their administration promoted development and did not adversely affect the interests of their inhabitants, to guarantee the inalienable rights of non-self-governing peoples to their natural resources, and to protect their property rights.  All States would be urged to provide moral and material assistance, as needed.  The Assembly would request that the Secretary-General, specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nationsprovided assistance to the Territories and continued to do so after the exercise of their right to self-determination.

The second draft -- titled “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations” (document A/AC.109/2008/L.11) -- would have the Assembly recommend that all States intensify efforts within those entities to ensure full and effective implementation of the Declaration.  It would reaffirm the need to extend all appropriate assistance to the peoples of the Territories and urge the specialized agencies and organizations that had not yet provided assistance to the Territories to do so as soon as possible.

Also by the text, the agencies and other United Nations institutions would be requested to strengthen existing support measures and formulate appropriate assistance programmes to the remaining Territories, within the framework of their respective mandates, while providing information on:  environmental problems facing the Territories; the impact of natural disasters; ways to help them fight drug trafficking, money-laundering and other illegal activities; and the illegal exploitation of marine and natural resources.  The Assembly would also recommend that the executive heads of the United Nations bodies formulate, in cooperation with regional organizations, concrete proposals for the full implementation of relevant resolutions.

Further by the text, the Assembly would request the continued updating and wide dissemination of an information leaflet on assistance programmes available to the Territories, published by the Department of Public Information (DPI) and the Department of Political Affairs (DPA), in consultation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), specialized agencies and the Special Committee.  It would welcome continued efforts by UNDP to maintain close liaison among the specialized agencies and other organizations, and to provide assistance to the peoples of the Territories.

The Assembly would, by other terms, encourage the Territories to establish and strengthen disaster preparedness and management institutions and policies, with the assistance of relevant specialized agencies.  It would request that the administering Powers facilitate the participation of appointed and elected territorial representatives in meetings and conferences within the United Nations system, so that the Territories may benefit from their activities.  It would request also that the Economic and Social Council continue to consider, in consultation with the Special Committee, appropriate measures for coordinating policies and activities to implement relevant Assembly resolutions.

By the terms of the third text, titled “Economic and other activities, which affect the interests of peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories” (document A/AC.9/2008/L.12), the Assembly would affirm the value of foreign economic investment, undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Territories and in accordance with their wishes, to make a valid contribution to their socio-economic development, especially during times of economic and financial crisis.

The Assembly would reaffirm, by other terms, the Charter responsibility of the administering Powers to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, while reaffirming at the same time the legitimate rights of their peoples over their natural resources.  In that connection, the Assembly would also reaffirm its concern about activities aimed at exploiting the natural resources that were the heritage and human resources of those peoples.

By further terms, the Assembly would reaffirm the need to avoid any economic and other activities adversely affecting the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and call upon all Governments that had not yet done so to end the activities of national and corporate bodies under their jurisdiction that were detrimental to the interests of the Territories’ inhabitants.  It would urge the administering Powers to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable right of those peoples to their natural resources and to maintain control over the future development of those resources.

The Assembly would call upon the administering Powers concerned to ensure that no discriminatory working conditions prevailed in the Territories under their administration, and to promote in each Territory a fair system of wages.  It would appeal to trade unions, non-governmental organizations and individuals to continue efforts to promote the economic well-being of the Territories’ peoples, and appeal to the media to disseminate information about developments in that regard.

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For information media • not an official record